Whether you are facing a career break due to family care or any other reason, you should not lose the contact with your job altogether. How, then, to stay competitive in the labor market and not to return after a career break with the feeling of being stuck deep in the past?
Keep up
With the ubiquitous Internet everyone can stay in touch with his/her field. Read and learn, watch what is happening. Just connect websites that interest you into a RSS reader and you will have everything in one place. Try also to attend regular professional events and conferences where you can meet your old acquaintances.
Stay in contact
That fact that you are not working at the moment does not mean you should stop developing contacts with people in your field. On the contrary, enter a local professional association and keep in touch with former colleagues who can help you with your return to the workforce.
Become a volunteer
Try to find time to volunteer activities in your field, which will allow you to brush up your skills and learn some new ones. You never know what new options for the future in you job will open to you this way.
Consider what you want to do in the future
Take advantage of the career break to think about whether you want to do the same work even after its end. If you want to change the industry, note that such a return to the workforce will be even more challenging. If you are not sure, hire a career coach.
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